\setlength{\tabcolsep}{0.5em} % for the horizontal padding
{\renewcommand{\arraystretch}{1.2}% for the vertical padding
	\begin{tabular}{|l|l|}
		\hline
		column 1                      & column 2 \\
		\hline
		I really would like this less & crammed  \\
		\hline
	\end{tabular}
}
